Dawn of the Red and Lux to Join Ninkasi’s Year-Round Offerings

 

Press Release: 
EUGENE, Ore.—Nov. 20, 2014— Craft beer fans can look forward to a revamped Flagship Series lineup from Ninkasi Brewing Company starting January 2015, featuring new additions paired with steadfast favorites. Started in 2006 by Nikos Ridge and Jamie Floyd, the brewery first entered the Oregon craft beer scene with highly-hopped, Northwest India Pale Ales – beers that quickly made a name for the brewery. Since then, Ninkasi’s brewers have created a diverse offering of beer styles, including traditionally-inspired lagers; rich, complex stouts; ales brewed with experimental hops; and single-batch brews.

Released in 2014 for limited times, Lux, a German-Style Helles Lager, and Dawn of the Red, an India Red Ale, won the admiration of beer drinkers, giving the brewery reason enough to bring on the beers full-time to its year-round Flagship Series. In 2015, these beers will join the Flagship Series lineup alongside Total Domination IPA, Tricerahops Double IPA, Oatis Oatmeal Stout, and Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Stout with Vanilla.

“The 2015 Flagship Series offers something for every palate,” says Jamie Floyd, founding brewer and co-founder of Ninkasi. “With these six different beers you will find our very first recipes paired with beers that were created out of our desire to experiment and challenge ourselves as brewers.”

Total Domination, IPA
In 2006, founders Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge spent 18-hours brewing the very first batch of Ninkasi beer. The result? Total Domination IPA – a citrusy, floral IPA and a testament to Jamie’s love for Amarillo and Crystal hops. With a great malt backbone and fresh, citrus hop flavor, this beer finishes with a desire to return to this favored IPA again and again.
Enjoyed Since: 2006 | OG: 1067 | IBUs: 65 | ABV: 6.7%

Tricerahops, Double IPA
Offering a double-dose of everything loved in an IPA, Tricerahops has acquired a cult-like following since it was first brewed in 2007. Offering a big, earthy, floral hop hit, this beer is balanced by a generous amount of malt, making for a very drinkable double IPA.
Enjoyed Since: 2007 | OG: 1080 | IBUs: 100 | ABV: 8.0%

Dawn of the Red, India Red Ale (Available February – December 2015)
Originally released as a Rare & Delicious (R&D) Series beer, Dawn of the Red was brewed out of a want to brew an IRA using new hop varieties. Using El Dorado and Mosaic hops, this beer has an intoxicating tropical flavor. Dawn of the Red immediately became so popular that it was advanced to Ninkasi’s Special Release Series. Once again, the fanfare for this beer was so great, that making it a new addition to Ninkasi’s Flagship Series was an easy decision, available year-round starting in February 2015.
Enjoyed Since: 2014 | OG: 1072 | IBUs: 75 | ABV: 7.0%

Oatis, Oatmeal Stout
Brewed in 2007 as the second winter seasonal produced by Ninkasi, a love for Oatis developed right away. Named after a brewer’s dog, the popularity of Oatis promoted its move from a seasonal brew to a year-round offering in 2008. This stout has a dry finish with a significant amount of roasted flavor upfront. Its smooth mouthfeel comes from the use of rolled oats paired with a caramel complexity and coffee flavors.
Enjoyed Since: 2007 | OG: 1072 | IBUs: 50 | ABV: 7.0%

Vanilla Oatis, Oatmeal Stout with Vanilla
A more decadent take on Oatis, Vanilla Oatis features the addition of whole Madagascar vanilla beans. During the brewing process of Oatis, a portion of the beer is set aside in the brite tanks where hand-cut vanilla beans are added – the same process used to dry-hop a beer. This addition of pure vanilla acts as a natural sweetener, adding a more roasted flavor upfront followed by a vanilla finish.
Enjoyed Since: 2009 | OG: 1072 | IBUs: 50 | ABV: 7.0%

Lux, German-Style Helles Lager
Meaning light in German, Lux is Ninkasi’s lightest Flagship Series offering. Capturing the traditional and technical balance of the style, this Helles Lager has a toasty malt flavor balanced by the smallest amount of hops to bring about a quaffable drinkability. Allowed to ferment for a minimum of six-weeks, Ninkasi’s brewers accepted the challenge of producing a lager to the highest standards of balance.
Enjoyed Since: 2014 | OG: 1050 | IBUs: 20 | ABV: 5.0%

About Ninkasi Brewing Company
Founded in 2006 by Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi Brewing Company continues to grow from its first batch of Total Domination IPA, to two brewhouses, a 55-barrel and a 90-barrel brewhouse, located in Eugene, Ore.  Ninkasi’s Flagship beers are sold throughout Oregon; Alaska; Alberta; Arizona; California; Idaho; Washington; Nevada; and Vancouver, British Columbia. The brewery remains privately-owned and is committed to community support and giving. Ninkasi’s Beer Is Love program offers in-kind donations and support for organizations throughout its footprint. 

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Cascade Brewing promotes Kevin Martin to lead blender

Brewery known for its NW style sour ales hires on a number of new employees, expands location

Press Release:PORTLAND, Ore. – Nov. 20, 2014 – Cascade Brewing announced today the promotion of Kevin Martin to lead blender. Martin, who has been with Cascade since early 2012 and has served as cellarmaster for the past two years, will now oversee putting all sour blends together, including stewarding the live barrels in the brewery’s popular Tap It Tuesday program.

 “Kevin has been a huge asset to the blending program at Cascade since taking the reigns,” explained Ron Gansberg, brewmaster and blendmaster for the company. “We are excited to promote him to this position and allow him the freedom to further express his creativity.”As lead blender, Martin will work closely with Gansberg to develop components of each blend, overseeing ratios and percentages and providing creative input. He will also steward the blends for Tap It Tuesday, a weekly event at the Cascade Brewing Barrel House that features exclusive one-off limited blends from the cellar, with the contribution of Cascade personnel.

Martin got his start in the wine industry in 2007, working multiple harvests in a number of wineries. A homebrewer, he chose to segue into beer and attended the American Brewers Guild Intensive Brewing Science and Engineering program from 2011 to 2012. Originally from Lancaster, Penn., he came to Portland for its vibrant beer and wine culture, securing a brief internship with Laurelwood Brewing Co. before settling in at Cascade.Cascade has added a number of other recent new hires as well, including Mike Starzec as general manger of the Cascade Brewing Barrel House; Robby Roda as director of sales, distribution and marketing; and Chris Doggett as senior accountant.Starzec, who originally hails from Anchorage, Alaska, oversees all operations at the Cascade Brewing Barrel House at 939 SE Belmont St. He has worked as a restaurant manager in Portland for the last 15 years, with the last six years focused primarily in brewpubs. Most recently he spent five years managing the Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House.

Roda, a Portland native, oversees all accounts in the Northwest, as well as acting as the liaison with Cascade’s national distributors and helping grow the brand. He most recently worked in sales with Incline Beverages, a craft beer distributor in Southern Calif. He has also worked with a number of beer bars and breweries in Calif., including The Bottle Room in Whittier, Monkish Brewing In Torrance and Golden Road Brewery in Los Angeles.

Doggett is a native Oregonian who graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. Doggett manages all in-house accounting, and is also overseeing the company’s transition to new ERP software. He has previously worked at Xerox and SDRI.
Cascade Brewery, which makes a number of traditional style ales but is known worldwide for its NW sour style beers, has recently expanded into a 23,000 square foot warehouse in SW Portland that will headquarter all of its blending, aging, packaging and distribution. The Cascade Blending House currently holds 1,300 barrels filled with its sour beer, plus an additional nine foudres (giant wooden barrels that typically hold around 1,800 gallons of beer). The company is in the process of moving all operations out of the Cascade Brewing Barrel House; in the near future, it will expand that space into a larger pub and tasting room.About Cascade BrewingEstablished in 1998, Cascade Brewing is a pioneer of the NW style sour beer movement. Under the ownership of Art Larrance and the direction of brewmaster Ron Gansberg, the Portland, Ore. brewery eschewed the “hops arms race” of the Northwest and instead chose to focus on sour ales, employing local fruit and barrels from the region. Today they have grown from several oak wine barrels to more than 1,300. They also produce a number of non-sour beers in their SW Portland brewery. Cascade Brewing has two pubs, the Raccoon Lodge and Brew Pub in SW Portland (www.raclodge.com) and the Cascade Brewing Barrel House in SE Portland (www.cascadebrewingbarrelhouse.com). The brewery currently distributes its bottled sour beers in Oregon, Washington, California, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New York.  For more information, visit www.cascadebrewing.com.

Breakside Brewing: La Tormenta release party, Limited edition bottle releases, Rare and Vintage beer flights...

On Tuesday freshpints.com was invited to a Breakside Brewing media release for La Tormenta and Imperial Red at the Cheese Bar in Portland.  Both La Tormenta and Imperial Red were excellent. Thanks Breakside Brewing!

Tonight at the Beermongers in Portland is the release party for La Tormenta. Breakside is also bringing the new winter draft only Imperial Red. Along with La Tormenta and Imperial Red, Breakside Brewing will also have Wanderlust IPA, Woodlawn IPA, Imperial Red, Irish Stout, Hoppy Saison and New World Bruin on draft. Note that Bottles of La Tormenta should be arriving in stores late this week or early next week.

Stats: 8% Abv. 93 IBU.

Malts: Two Row, British Maris Otter and Crystal, German Carafa
Hops: Columbus, Amarillo, Simcoe, Cascade.

Stats: 8% Abv. 93 IBU.

Malts: Two Row, British Maris Otter and Crystal, German Carafa
Hops: Columbus, Amarillo, Simcoe, Cascade.

Other Breakside Brewing news:

Limited Edition bottle release: Country Blonde and New World Bruin
On Friday December 5th Breakside will be releasing two limited edition small batch beers to bottles - Country Blonde (750 oz @ $15/bottle), which we sampled at the tasting and a new batch of New World Bruin (22 oz @ $13/bottle). Bottles of Country Blonde will probably only be available at the two Breakside locations while New World Bruin should make it out to bottleshops.

Country Blonde description: straw-colored, wheaten saison conditioned on Gewurztraminer grapes and a blend of wild yeast and bacteria that includes three strains of Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus. 7.2 % ABV 27 IBU's.

New World Bruin description: A blended Flanders Red/Brown-style sour ale.

Rare & Vintage Beer Library Flights at Breakside Milwaukie
Also beginning December 5th we will start doing rare and vintage beer flights from the bottle at Breakside Milwaukie Brewery & Taproom only. These flights will be of three 5oz pours for $9 or individually for $3 each. Flights will vary depending on what we have available and will only be beers not available on draft. Library Flights will be available just Friday through Sundays. Breakside will update via social media what the current beers on each flight will be.

EuroTrash India Pale Lager draft beer release next week

Due to the popularity of our Imperial Red being nearly sold-out already we have a new big draft release coming out next week called "EuroTrash India Pale Lager."

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Beermongers  

1125 SE Division st

Portland, OR 97202

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Stochasticity Project Master of Disguise Released Today

Press Release:
ESCONDIDO, CA (Nov. 17, 2014) – Beer enthusiasts, prepare for a mind- and palate-defying experience that may change some of your preconceived notions about beer. The latest Stochasticity Project release will challenge the assumption that pale-colored ales are modest in body, or that only dark-hued beers can exhibit roasty, chocolaty and rich malty notes. Beginning today, Stochasticity Project Master of Disguise, a so-called imperial golden stout brewed with coffee beans, cocoa and coffee beans (not a typo), will start arriving in 22-ounce bottles and on draft to select markets nationwide.

The inspiration for this beer was twofold: First, after brewing Stone 11th Anniversary Ale (a black IPA now known as Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA) in 2007, it was joked that Stone should brew a golden stout. Then, on April Fool's Day 2010, Stone CEO and Co-founder Greg Koch and BrewDog Co-founder James Watt teased fans with a fictional, oxymoronic collaboration beer that was pale in color but had all the classic flavors of an imperial stout, calling it BrewDog/Stone Luciferin Golden Imperial Stout. Having tucked away the concept for that far-fetched beer, Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele finally decided to make it a reality by developing a pilot batch recipe featuring ingredients that contributed roasty flavors and a pale color.

“To achieve the qualities of a stout, we relied on our prior experience brewing with coffee to pull flavors from the beans without affecting the hue of the beer,” explains Steele. “As the beer warms and opens up, the chocolate adds another level of complexity and helps build the traditional flavors typically associated with dark beers. It’s been really fun to see a prank with questionable viability become a reality.”

To give the beer the silky-smooth mouthfeel that is often associated with stouts, flaked oats were added to the grain bill along with Carapils, English amber and pale malts, which lent the beer a golden-colored hue. Sheets of cocoa from ChocoVivo were added in the whirlpool along with Ryan Bros Coffee, with an additional small amount of coffee added post-fermentation to replicate the typical deep, roasty, chocolaty character found in stouts. Giving off a mild spice flavor and strong bitterness, both Liberty and Nugget hops offer a perfect balance to the overall robust malt flavors. Upon first sip, fans will savor all the rich complexity of a stout presented in the unexpected form of a brilliant golden ale.

Stochasticity Project Master of Disguise is ready to be enjoyed now or may be properly cellared for several months or even years. Over time, the malt qualities will evolve and give way to richer cocoa and coffee flavors. Regardless of when the beer is enjoyed, fans will learn to not judge beer by its color... at least not this one.

Stochasticity Project Master of Disguise Quick Facts:

Name: Stochasticity Project Master of Disguise
URL: stochasticity.com/beers/master-of-disguise
Stats: 9.7% ABV, 55 IBUs
Availability: Limited 22-ounce bottles and draft, beginning Nov. 17
Hops Bill: Liberty and Nugget
Distribution: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT and WA
Find beer: find.stonebrewing.com/

Lompoc Brewing Announces Annual Holiday Beer Extravaganza

Lompoc Brewing announces annual Holiday Beer Extravaganza, releases

eight holiday beers including Portland’s original Hanukkah seasonal

Press Release:
PORTLAND, Ore. – Just as Santa has eight reindeer, so does Lompoc have eight different holiday beers, including one brewed for Hanukkah. The annual Lompoc Holiday Beer Extravaganza will celebrate the release of them all on Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 4pm to Midnight at the newly renovated Sidebar, Lompoc’s barrel tasting room at 3901 N Williams Ave.

This year's lineup of holiday seasonals includes Blitzen, a spiced golden ale; Jolly Bock Lager; C-sons Greetings Imperial IPA; Old Tavern Rat Barleywine; Brewdolph Belgian-style Red; 2013 Bourbon Barrel Aged Holiday Cheer, a vanilla porter aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels; Pinot Noir Barrel Aged Cheval de Trait Belge, a dark Belgian strong ale aged in Maryhill Winery Pinot noir barrels; and the triumphant return of 8 Malty Nights, a chocolate rye beer brewed in honor of Hanukkah. (See all descriptions at the bottom of this release.)

The holiday celebration will take place in the recently renovated Sidebar, which has added a roll up glass door to allow in more light, booth seating, expanded taps and an all-new menu of small plates designed for sharing. There will be complimentary appetizers featured at the event.

All beers will also be available at the other Lompoc pubs on Dec. 2 as well, including Lompoc Tavern on NW 23rd Ave, Oaks Bottom Public House on SE Bybee Blvd, Hedge House on SE Division St, and Fifth Quadrant on N Failing and Williams. C-sons Greetings and Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Tavern Rat are also available in 22 ounce bottles, at a cost of $5 and $12, respectively.

Lompoc Brewing annually releases a large number of holiday beers, a testament to its seasonal brewing and barrel aging programs. For more information, call 503-288-3996 or visit www.lompocbrewing.com.

BEER DESCRIPTIONS

8 MALTY NIGHTS: Dark brown in color and lightly hopped with English style hops, this chocolate rye beer features a roasted chocolate flavor and a sweet finish. Raise a glass and toast l’chaim to Portland’s first Hanukkah seasonal. 6.5% ABV

2013 BOURBON BARREL AGED HOLIDAY CHEER: Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels for eight months, this robust vanilla porter combines big chocolate flavor and a full body with mellow vanilla notes, compliments of whole vanilla beans in the conditioning tank. 6.8% ABV

BLITZEN: This bright, straw-colored holiday favorite is dry-hopped with Centennial hops, dried apricots and coriander. The hops lend a slight spicy and earthy aroma, while the apricots provide a faint sweetness with a fruity flavor and aroma. 4.6% ABV

BREWDOLPH: This Belgian style red ale features a malty and creamy body. Brewed with the Belgian Ardennes yeast strain, it boasts a mild fruitiness and a spicy clove character. 7.7% ABV

C-SONS GREETINGS: Brewed and dry-hopped with all seven “C” hops, this beer features a deep copper color with a piney, citrusy, floral and resinous aroma. A rich, caramel malt finish and an endless developing hop presence complement its full hop flavor. 8.0% ABV

JOLLY BOCK: This lager was brewed with a generous amount of Munich malt to develop the deep amber color and rich malt flavor. The malty flavor is balanced with a spicy hop bitterness. 7.3% ABV

OLD TAVERN RAT: This dark amber-colored barleywine was aged for almost a year prior to its release. It has a strong bitterness that is balanced by the sweetness of caramel and toffee flavors. 9.4% ABV

PINOT NOIR BARREL AGED CHEVAL DE TRAIT BELGE: This dark Belgian strong ale was aged in Maryhill Winery Pinot noir barrels for four months. It has a malty body with notes of chocolate, tobacco, oak and plum, finishing dry and slightly tart. 8.5% ABV

SIERRA NEVADA WILD HOP IPA IS THE FIRST NATIONWIDE RELEASE TO SHOWCASE NEOMEXICANUS HOPS

Pic Credit/Sierra Nevada Brewing Co

Harvest Wild Hop IPA concludes the five-bottle 2014 Harvest series, returning in 2015

Press Release:

Chico, CA—November 17, 2014—For the finale of its five-bottle 2014 Harvest series, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is showcasing the wild Neomexicanus hop for the first time on a national stage. Originally found during a backcountry quest in the foothills of Taos, New Mexico, the bizarre cones of the Neomexicanus hop produce multiple heads—aptly nicknamed Medusa—and Harvest Wild Hop IPA boasts their vibrant melon, apricot and citrus aromas. The 24-ounce bottles ship to distributors starting this week and will be available through January 2015.

Quick stats on Harvest Wild Hop IPA:

• ABV—6.5%
• BU—55
• Hop(s)—Neomexicanus
• Malts—Two-row Pale, Caramel

“There’s a fun sense of adventure in our final Harvest beer of the year,” said Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada’s founder. “The Neomexicanus hop was a lucky find by a rogue hophead combing the wild landscape, and he’s essentially gifted it to craft beer. We’re always looking for new aromas and flavors, and when they’re unexpected, it’s all the more exciting.”  

Throughout 2014, the inaugural Harvest series explored newly developed hop varieties and different hopping methods: single hop (Yakima 291 and Equinox), fresh hop (Southern Hemisphere Harvest®), wet hop (Northern Hemisphere Harvest®), and wild hop. Sierra Nevada will reimagine the Harvest series for 2015, with the first release slated for February.

Tied to the Harvest series and its celebration of hops, Sierra Nevada last month hosted its second annual Single, Fresh, Wet & Wild Harvest Festival in Chico, Calif. More than 50 brewers from across the country celebrated the annual hop harvest, pouring a selection of their beers that included at least one single hop, fresh hop, wet hop or wild hop beer. “With arguably the greatest brewers in the country setting up camp next to the newly harvested hop fields,” said the Chico News & Review, “it’s pretty much the perfect beer experience.”

 

About Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Founded in 1980, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is one of America’s premier craft breweries, highly regarded for using only whole-cone hops and the finest quality ingredients. The pioneering spirit that launched Sierra Nevada spans more than three decades, with innovation emerging from both the brewhouse and sustainability initiatives. Sierra Nevada has set the standard for artisan brewers worldwide as a winner of numerous awards for its extensive line of beers including Pale Ale, Torpedo^®, Porter, Stout, Kellerweis^® and a host of seasonal, specialty and limited release beers. 
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New School presents a book release and pub crawl with New School contributor and author Brian Yaeger for his new book "Oregon Breweries"

Portland resident Brian Yaeger is excited to celebrate the release of his new book "Oregon Breweries", sign copies, and answer questions at the famed Powell's City of Books on 10th & West Burnside at 7: 30 p.m. on Friday December 5th. Brian will be joined by Bend, Oregon-based author and beer blogger Jon Abernathy from The Brew Site who is also launching his new book, "Bend Beer."

Oregon Breweries features a forward by Gayle Goschie, one of the state's third-generation hop farmers. It is a comprehensive guide to the breweries of the Beaver State, a leader in the craft brew revolution, featuring 190 breweries and brewpubs. Each brewery profile includes individual backgrounders on brewers and owners, styles and brands of brewed, regional visitor information, and the author's "Pick" of the best beer to try. It also includes information on forthcoming breweries, local beer events, top bars and retailers, and more.

Post meet-and-greet and signing, Brian Yaeger will lead a short pub crawl beginning at Deschutes Brewery's PDX pub at 9 p.m. for a tasting with the brewers including special beer tappings and complimentary drinks. From Deschutes we'll head to the newly opened Fat Head's Brewing on 13th & NW Davis and then head a few blocks north to the Rogue Flanders Brewpub. Depending on the hour and how many people are still up for drinking we may or may not finish with a nightcap at Brian's favorite hidden gem of a brewery - Tugboat Brewing.

Attendance is free, a love of Oregon Breweries and beer is not.

Friday, December 5th, 2014 7:30 p.m. Pub Crawl at 9:00 p.m.
Powell's City of Books
1005 W Burnside St. between 10th and 11th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209

Brian Yaeger is the author of Oregon Breweries and Red, White, and Brew: An American Beer Odyssey. He contributed to the Oxford Companion to Beer and is frequently published by All About Beer, Draft Magazine, CraftBeer.com, CRAFT and of course The New School. Yaeger has appeared on NPR's Marketplace with Kai Ryssdal, Martha Stewart Living Radio, and The Brewing Network. He earned a Master in Professional Writing (with a thesis on beer) from the University of Southern California. He runs Inn Beervana Bed & Beer in Portland along with his wife Half Pint, son IPYae, and dog Dunkel. Follow him on Twitter at @Yaeger and @OregonBreweries and, begrudgingly, on Instagram at @OregonBreweries. Lastly, don't forget his personal beer chronicles at BrianYaeger.com.